Established in 2000, Oncquest Laboratories Ltd. is known for its excellence in Clinical Diagnostics and its core competence in Cancer Diagnostics. Its key business areas include Specialized as well as Routine Investigations, Hospital Lab management, Clinical Trials, and R&D. With over eighteen years of experience under its belt, Oncquest has established itself among India’s Largest Cancer Diagnostic Network. It is a College of American Pathologists (CAP) and National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited centre, with a core focus in Molecular Pathology and Surgical Pathology Services. The logistic capabilities and pan Asia geographical spread, makes Oncquest an ideal associate for all clinical activities in India and neighboring countries.
Oncquest utilizes the experience and expertise of trained scientists and pathologist to provide clinicians an incisive diagnosis to identify the disease process at the fine point of differentiation. Recently, it has extended its arms in the areas of Companion Diagnostics and Pharmacogenomics which has encouraged greater penetration of Personalized Medicine into the Indian healthcare market. This is a way towards the future epicentre of the much technological advancement in healthcare.
The Journey of Excellence
Oncquest’s journey started as a research-focused entity in 2002. Being a then-advanced technology platform of multiplex PCR in Advanced Surgical Pathology including Immuno- Histochemistry, Flow-Cytometry, FISH (Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization), Haematology, Cytogenetic. It later added Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), Digital Droplet PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and much more to its portfolio.
From its first avatar as an R&D focused entity, Oncquest has evolved into a reference laboratory in the field of Oncology, and more recently into a multi-platform pathology service provider with a core focus in Molecular Pathology and Surgical Pathology Services.
Awards & Recognitions
Over the years, Oncquest has successfully collected several jewels in its pocket including:
- ASSOCHAM under National Congress on Cervical Cancer 2018 awarded Oncquest ‘Outstanding Cancer Diagnostic Laboratory Of The Year.’
- ASSOCHAM under Women`s Health Excellence Awards 2017 again awarded ‘Cancer Diagnostic Testing Laboratory Of The Year.’
- ASSOCHAM (The Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry) India, one of the oldest & largest fountain head of Knowledge for Indian industry, has also awarded Oncquest Laboratories Ltd. as the ‘Diagnostic Service Provider Of The Year 2016.’
- Worldwide achievers, one of leading global market research consultant company has rated Oncquest Laboratories ltd. as, the ‘Best Pathology Laboratory In Delhi’ at a glittering Healthcare Excellence Summit, 2015.
The Veteran Leader
Dr. Ravi Gaur is COO (Chief Operating officer) at Oncquest Laboratories Ltd. He had served the Indian Army for over a decade and has a vast experience in setting up Centre Of Excellence as well as large and small diagnostic centres across the globe. Dr. Ravi Gaur is an expert of high and advanced technology driven diagnostic devices like NGS, RT PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction), Flowcytometers, high throughput hematology, immunology & biochemistry, POC (Point-Of-Care) devices and their clinical utility. Further, he also has a P and L (Profit and Loss) expertise in Operation Management and Business Development.
Dr. Ravi Gaur is specialized in Surgical Pathology, Auto immunity, Haematology, Advanced Clinical pathology, Molecular biology, and Genetics. With sheer dedication, he had successfully developed proficient skills in IT-enabled healthcare, primary care, wellness centre, healthcare consulting and operations, innovations and advanced diagnostic technologies including devices. Target-driven team building and crafting-out new business models from a scratch and making them huge value-driven models with high valuations is his forte.
Oncquest’s Diversified Range of Services
Oncquest offers one of the largest test portfolios especially molecular oncology, in exploratory and end-point biomarkers, genomic services and surgical pathology. Its specialized services cover over 1500 advanced technology based assays comprising screening, final diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis.
Oncquest is a preferred partner of global pharma companies and CROs (Contract Research Organizations) for clinical trials (Phase I – Phase IV). The lab also provides Patient Support Programme, clinical trials, and validation study on patients to bring down the cost of diagnosis and treatment along with prominent epidemic study.
Acknowledging the pathology space, the centre offers almost entire spectrum of biochemistry, immunology, hematology, clinical pathology and microbiology helping in clinical diagnosis, prevention, prediction, early diagnosis, monitoring and much more. Today, it has a state-of-the-art Molecular and Clinical Diagnostics Referral Laboratory, with a national footprint of over 36 laboratories, 250 collection centers and 1400+ service associates across India and South East Asia.
Oncquest Laboratories has launched many new advanced assays and technology-driven platforms for first time in India. With the rapid advancement and availability of new technology, many more new assays are now being offered including the NGS-based assays for better and focused tumor profiling, liquid biopsy for very early diagnosis of cancers, and Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) in leukemia. The recently launched tests include final diagnosis of cancer on tissue, FISH-based assays, Bone marrows for Myeloma and blood cancer – leukemia, and cytogenetic testing for haematological malignancies.
Oncquest is a pioneer in Oncology and market leader in so many tests like quantitative BCR/ABL and MRD. It performs over sixty percent BCR/ABL testing and seventy percent MRDs testing across India.
The centre is continuously improving its TAT (Turn Around Time) and technical platform with an aim to transform the healthcare space. These advanced assays have helped researchers, clinicians and patients to understand molecular basis of cancer and plan more specific and successful target based therapies.
More About BCR/ABL and MRD
BCR/ABL Testing with International Scale reporting – helps in the diagnosis and monitoring of Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia (CML) and few, though rare acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Both these cancers affect the mature blood cells and their precursors in the bone marrow; Chronic myelogenous leukaemia and certain types of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia are caused by the product of abnormal BCR-ABL gene fusions. This is an abnormal gene sequence that is formed, when chromosome portions are mutually exchanged between chromosomes 9 and 22 – a piece of chromosome 9 breaks-off and joins with chromosome 22; while, similarly a piece breaks-off from chromosome 22 and fuses with chromosome 9. This process, termed as ‘translocation’, produces an abnormal chromosome 22 with BCR-ABL gene sequence (often called Philadelphia chromosome) that guides the cells to multiply uncontrollably leading to cancer. Analysis of BCR-ABL1 mRNA levels during and/or after TKI therapy (Imatinib, Dasatinib, and Nilotinib) or stem cell transplantation accurately helps in monitoring the treatment response and early recurrence. It’s a very effective tool for monitoring treatment efficacy.
MRD – refers to the presence of leukemic cells below the threshold of detection by conventional morphology. MRD analysis aims at estimating total burden of leukemic cells during remission. It’s helpful in Identifying patients whose outcome with conventional chemotherapy treatment is likely to be poor, patients with high risk ALL and providing sensitive monitoring post treatment. Oncquest is preferred for MRD testing because of its quality parameters and highly skilled interpretation. The test is performed by high end triple laser 8 colors, Flowcytometry instrument with a complete range of CD markers.
Being at the Forefront
Oncquest handles over 15000 patient samples every day. Currently, it has a highly skilled team of doctors and scientists, trained in most advanced technology-driven platforms and geared up to deliver with globally accepted quality norms. Team Oncquest is well integrated with clinicians and patients to provide final and correct diagnosis which can help the clinicians in designing personalized and target based therapy, early diagnosis and its recurrence.
The centre’s majority of the partnerships are in tertiary care or super specialized hospitals catering to oncology, gastroenterology, infertility, immunology, nephrology, cardiology, critical care, infectious disease, preventive, and wellness space. Oncquest brings the proven international assays to India, validates them for India-specific environment and make it affordable to the Indian population.
Today, Oncquest is known as final opinion provider and more so for complicated cases. “Pathology is all about guiding the clinicians in their diagnostic dilemma and I personally believe that all pathologists are clinical solution provider and they should keep themselves fully updated and work hand in hand with clinicians to provide them solutions for better treatment outcome,” concludes Dr. Ravi Gaur.